Kate Robinson

April 23, 2004

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I came across a line you once said, “It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you’ve done, or think you can do. There’s a confrontation with destiny awaiting you. Somewhere, there is a chile you cannot eat.”

We would love to use this quote for our Eating Well 2005 calendar, under a beautiful photograph of chiles, but I cannot find the year you were quoted. So that we may properly give a citation, can you tell me when “A Hot Time in Nairobi,” came out?

Thanks very much, I appreciate your help (and great quote!)

I don't precisely remember when the line first appeared, (in a radio commentary carried by NPR). Probably sometime between 1987 and 1992. It can be found in my book of collected essays, FISHWHISTLE, COMMENTARIES UNCOMMONTARIES AND VULGAR EXCESSES, now out of print, and available as part of HOBOKEN FISH AND CHICAGO WHISTLE. which book, (and maybe the first one), you can find listed at amazon.com. You can find a pub date there. 
And, yes, you are welcome to use the quote, (attributed).